Book Cover Artwork Sold for $1.9million at Historic Auction

In a landmark event for fans of the wizarding world, the original watercolor illustration for the first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” has been sold for an astounding $1.9 million at an auction in New York. This artwork, which introduced readers to the young bespectacled wizard, has now become “the most valuable Harry Potter item ever sold at auction,” according to a statement from Sotheby’s.

The illustration was created by Thomas Taylor, who was just 23 years old when he painted the now-iconic image of Harry Potter with his signature lightning bolt scar and round glasses. Taylor, who was working at a children’s bookstore in Cambridge, England, at the time, was approached by a publisher at Bloomsbury to create the cover for J.K. Rowling’s debut novel. The book was subsequently released in London on June 26, 1997.

Prior to the auction, the piece was expected to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000, making its final sale price a remarkable surprise and a testament to the enduring popularity and cultural impact of the Harry Potter series. This record-breaking sale highlights the significant value and nostalgic importance that the franchise continues to hold for fans and collectors worldwide.